Freedom’s Choice Read Online Free PDF Page B

over. “Oh, that’s the idiot kind. Already preset to its destination. So what do you want me to report?”
    â€œDo they give a damn if the team landed safely?” Chuck asked.
    â€œI doubt it.”
    â€œThen let’s say that they’re hiding out. Haven’t located Zainal…no, make it target personnel.”
    â€œEmassi?” Worrell suggested, and Chuck nodded agreement to the change.
    Leon scribbled what looked like hieroglyphics on a sheet of paper.
    â€œYou can write it, too?” Worrell asked, more impressed.
    â€œA little,” Leon said with a wry grin. In his professional capacity as a surgeon, working on injured Catteni under the eyes of their medics, he had been in a very good position to pick up the language as well as aid the subversive elements in Sydney. “Most of what I learned is either medical or military. I can’t ask for my aunt’s pen on the table or order a meal. But I can spout real good Emassi-like orders.” He scribbled something else,this time in English. “How does this sound, sarge? ‘Emassi not here. Moving to find. Report tomorrow this time. Do not contact.’”
    â€œThat sounds about right. They’d hide from our people during the day,” Chuck said, thoughtfully. “That’ll give us some time at any rate. You can say that much?”
    â€œToo right,” Leon said, grinning broadly. “Most fun I’ve had all week.”
    They all went outside and up to the top of the Rock for a clearer message. The moon shone down on the trio.
    â€œRight out in the bright light, too,” Leon said, shaking his head and grinning. Then he sobered, depressed the appropriate send stud, and, with his free hand clutching at his throat, growled out the message in a hoarse whisper.
    He released the stud, counting. He shrugged. Depressed the stud and repeated the message. This time a single word answered his effort.
    â€œWhat was that?” Chuck asked.
    Leon gave him a conspiratorial grin. “‘Kotik.’ Means ‘Accept.’ Nothing about doing a good job or anything but Catteni don’t expect thanks, do they?” He handed the unit back to Chuck Mitford. They were starting back down when he had a sudden thought. “Hey, maybe I should have sounded feminine. You did say you think one of the victims was a female?”
    â€œOne set of boots was much smaller,” Worrell said. “But,” and he scrubbed his head, “I don’t think women lead many Catteni commando units.”
    â€œNo,” and now Chuck’s tone was smug, “though they might just have sent along someone Zainal might be glad to see about now…as bait.”
    â€œGuessed wrong, didn’t they?” Leon remarked in a level tone.
    * * *
    It was when Kris, Sarah, and Leila decided to have an afternoon swim that they found more skeletons, gleamingwhite bones in the shallows among the thick water reeds that grew there.
    â€œThat does it,” Sarah announced, refastening her coverall. “Makes me wonder what the fish we had for lunch had for lunch.”
    Leila looked slightly nauseous.
    â€œSarah!” Kris exclaimed. Medics often had displayed a ghoulish sense of humor. She did have to swallow before she added: “We’d better see what kind these are.”
    Zainal waded in to fetch some of the nearer skeletons, which were identified as loo-cow, rocksquat, Turs, and another human skull, still partly attached to its neck. It was Leila who found the odd scales and quills. No one had taken any more than a glancing look skyward for any hovering avian predators but everyone agreed they didn’t seem to be feathered, so perhaps they used the lake for bathing or in a grooming ritual.
    â€œBut they could just fly in and out. That barrier wasn’t for them,” Sarah said, frowning over the puzzle.
    â€œIt must have been something real bad for the Farmers to want to keep it